IP Library Granted Patent US 10,795,783
Granted Patent B2
US 10,795,783 · App. 16/158,471 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Fault tolerant clock monitor system

Inventors: Igor Wojewoda (Tempe, AZ); Bryan Kris (Gilbert, AZ); Stephen Bowling (Chandler, AZ); Yong Yuenyongsgool (Gilbert, AZ)
Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
G06F11/1604G06F11/142G06F11/1679H03K5/19
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,795,783
App. No.
16/158,471
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clock monitor includes a test clock input, as a reference clock input, another clock input, a measurement circuit, and control logic. The measurement circuit generates a measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of the test clock input using the reference clock input, which is compared to a threshold. The control logic determines whether the measurement exceeded the threshold and, based on the measurement exceeding the threshold, cause generation of another measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle using the third clock input in combination with the first clock input or the reference clock input. The control logic may determine whether the other measurement exceeded a threshold and, based on such a determination, further determine that the test clock input or the reference clock input are faulty.

Claims (43)

1. A clock monitor, comprising:

a first clock input, configured as a test clock input;

a second clock input, configured as a reference clock input;

a third clock input;

a measurement circuit configured to generate a first measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of the test clock input using the reference clock input;

a comparator circuit configured to compare the first measurement to one or more thresholds; and

control logic configured to:

determine whether the first measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds;

based on a determination that the first measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds, cause the measurement circuit to generate a second measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle using the third clock input in combination with the test clock input or the reference clock input;

determine whether the second measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds;

based on whether the second measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds, determine that the test clock input or the reference clock input are faulty.

2. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to select a backup clock to replace a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input based on the second measurement.

3. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to delay selection of a backup clock to replace a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input based on the first measurement.

4. The clock monitor of claim 1 , where the thresholds include:

a first threshold, beyond which the control logic is configured to issue a warning signal while maintaining a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input; and

a second threshold, beyond which the control logic is configured to issue a failure while selecting a backup clock to replace the clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input.

5. The clock monitor of claim 4 , wherein the warning signal includes an interrupt event for a processor and the failure includes a clock switch event configured to replace the clock source.

6. The clock monitor of claim 1 , further comprising a backup clock select input to determine a backup clock from a plurality of clock candidates to replace a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input based on the second measurement.

7. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to adjust a period of time during which data is collected for measured clock inputs.

8. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to adjust accuracy for which data is collected for measured clock inputs.

9. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to cause the measurement circuit to generate the second measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of the test clock input using the third clock input as a reference clock signal.

10. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to cause the measurement circuit to generate the second measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of reference clock input using the third clock input as a reference clock.

11. The clock monitor of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to select the test clock input and the reference clock input from three or more candidate clock signals.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a first clock input as a test clock input;

receiving a second clock input as reference clock input;

receiving a third clock input;

generating a first measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of the test clock input using the reference clock input;

comparing the first measurement to one or more thresholds;

determining whether the first measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds;

based on a determination that the first measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds, generating a second measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle using the third clock input in combination with the test clock input or the reference clock input;

determining whether the second measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds; and

based on whether the second measurement was below a lower limit or above an upper limit of one or more thresholds, determining that the test clock input or the reference clock input are faulty.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising selecting a backup clock to replace a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input based on the second measurement.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising delaying selection of a backup clock to replace a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input based on the first measurement.

15. The method of claim 12 , where the thresholds include:

a first threshold, beyond which the method includes issuing a warning signal while maintaining a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input; and

a second threshold, beyond which the method includes issuing a failure while selecting a backup clock to replace the clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the warning signal includes an interrupt event for a processor and the failure includes a clock switch event to replace the clock source.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving a backup clock select input to determine a backup clock from a plurality of clock candidates to replace a clock source of the test clock input or the reference clock input based on the second measurement.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating the second measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of the test clock input using the third clock input as a reference clock signal.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating the second measurement of a frequency or a duty cycle of reference clock input using the third clock input as a reference clock.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising selecting the test clock input and the reference clock input from three or more candidate clock signals.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0335 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059357/0823 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059263/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059264/0384 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0238 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0380 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0625 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052856/0909 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: WOJEWODA, IGOR; KRIS, BRYAN; BOWLING, STEPHEN; YUENYONGSGOOL, YONG
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 047145/0893 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,638,483 US 12,695,531